BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Thanks for the post and the photo's Teresa. Quite a lovely surprise seeing Michelle Breedt sitting on stage and reading that the Pope thought her singing expressive.

She is not a German singer but a South African mezzo soprano who actually sat in my classes as a student and has become a friend. She is Professor Extraordinaire in Singing at the University where I taught, so I'll hopefully be seeing her "soon" and it will be interesting to hear her view of this concert and our hero, Benedict XVI.

Her career is flourishing. She lives in Innsbruck (a few weeks per year....) and has just finished another Bayreuth Festival, and preparing for Vienna State Opera (with Gruberova, I see) in November.

Her website says that she sang in Carnegie Hall (Beethoven 9th) in March under Maris Janssons. Perhaps you yourself attended that performance? (Beethoven 9 is not my favourite though....) Anyhow, when she's in New York again, please go and listen. If you like her singing (she's dynamite!) let me know, please.




My goodness! How exciting for you!!! Sometimes, it really is a small world. Thanks for pointing out Ms. Breedt's nationality - I will correct the entry above - and all the additional information. I was going by the single news release that everyone has been recycling since the concert was first announced in September.... And please share with us eventually what her experience was like with B16....

TERESA